The given article makes no mention of Texas cutting taxes. The article only describes Texas cutting spending, primarily in education. The increased revenue from taxes on sales and energy lead to the surplus.

Texas' education spending is ranked 45th in the nation, and dead last on mental healthcare spending.

Crazy and stupid, just like the GOP likes 'em.

A little perspective would be nice given that Texas educates more ESOL kids than any other state by a factor of somewhere around three. It's hard to pass tests that aren't in a language you speak.

Um. I don't have any problem with your overall point, but can I just throw in a tiny quibble - California has far and away the most. I can't find hard numbers for any year more recent than 2005, but I doubt the percentages have changed all that much. Back then California had about 1.6 million, Texas had about 650,000.

If Texas had accomplished this by doing something rather than by benefiting from good fortune I would be more impressedCalifornia is projected to have a surplus and they did it by adding jobs and tax increases on the wealthy, no luck involved.

Having a raging boner for achieving a budget surplus at least at one point in the business cycle or during your party's hegemony is justified, but the boner and the resulting fiscal discipline is what's important, not the surplus itself.

Texas' education spending is ranked 45th in the nation, and dead last on mental healthcare spending.

Crazy and stupid, just like the GOP likes 'em.

THIS

Also: Texas is also very good at getting Federal funding for almost everything. Easy to run a surplus when big government gives you money for everything. Texas is most often the answer to "where does the Pork barrel spending go".

Texas' education spending is ranked 45th in the nation, and dead last on mental healthcare spending.

Crazy and stupid, just like the GOP likes 'em.

According to CBS News, Texas is tanked 16th in school performance while California is 26thhttp://www.cbsnews.com/2300-500172_162-10008953-22.html

You can thank the 'No Child Left Behind' concept. These days, Texas kids are taught to pass tests, not critical thinking or to question or explore. They're taught solely to pass the tests, often with help from their teachers. The educators simply can't afford to have failing students due to how NCLB cuts funding for 'badly performing' schools.

Texas' education spending is ranked 45th in the nation, and dead last on mental healthcare spending.

Crazy and stupid, just like the GOP likes 'em.

A little perspective would be nice given that Texas educates more ESOL kids than any other state by a factor of somewhere around three. It's hard to pass tests that aren't in a language you speak.

Actually California is first with ESL students. link

And California will be running a surplus next year after RAISING taxes!

I highly doubt California will run a surplus. While Texas has the cash in hand as their surplus, California is "projected" to have a surplus. We all know what happens when politicians see extra invisible money.

Texas' education spending is ranked 45th in the nation, and dead last on mental healthcare spending.

Crazy and stupid, just like the GOP likes 'em.

According to CBS News, Texas is tanked 16th in school performance while California is 26thhttp://www.cbsnews.com/2300-500172_162-10008953-22.html

You can thank the 'No Child Left Behind' concept. These days, Texas kids are taught to pass tests, not critical thinking or to question or explore. They're taught solely to pass the tests, often with help from their teachers. The educators simply can't afford to have failing students due to how NCLB cuts funding for 'badly performing' schools.

Fun fact: No Child Left Behind is actually modeled on the way Texas has been doing things for years prior. I was taking TAAS test since I was but a wee cowpoke.

You would think the Texas Legislature might move some of this money back into the education fund they cut the shiat out of last time around, but more likely they'll find away to funnel all of it to Rick Perry's friends and cohorts, then insist on cutting another $5 billion out of education and spending most of their time throwing tantrums about Planned Parenthood.

The government in this state makes me want to beat the shiat out of something.